Category: Connections

Can You Love a Grocery Store?

Can you love a grocery store? I seem to. Perhaps it’s because it has been in my life, via my mother, longer than my physical existence.

Where Shopping is a Pleasure

This is a pretty simple concept. Yet it shows a caring attitude about their customers. ‘Where Shopping is a Pleasure’ exemplifies my personal experience with Publix, a native Polk County Florida grocery store. Now couple this slogan with their signature green.

Why is Green Special?

Green signifies growth and nature. Placing a white ‘P’ on a field of green feels like a purity of spirit. Furthermore, green is the color associated with the heart chakra. Did you think pink? There is a philosophy that pink signifies a healing heart. That feels right to me too.

History Affects Our Perspective

Mom and Dad married at the First Baptist Church, across the street from the historic first Publix supermarket, in Winter Haven, Florida. Even though they settled in Dundee, seven miles away, Mom often traveled to this first Publix when she couldn’t find an item at Helm’s Grocery in our tiny rural town.

I have vivid memories of this building, especially the glass tiles. Later, after a newer Publix was built, the building housed a Morrison’s Cafeteria. Those memories are even clearer.

On the rare occasions, when Dad was fishing in Placida or Chokoloskee, Mom took us to Morrison’s after church. I always requested the same selections; fried shrimp, cornbread stick and a salad with cucumber, tomato, and onion. Always. If I was really hungry, I chose a slice of coconut custard pie.

Bring Joy into the Mundane

Can you love a grocery store, the whine of a power saw, the tinkle of a bell when you enter a store, or the smell of rain? Absolutely. Stopping to notice everyday occurrences and allowing the joy into your heart brings happiness to yourself, your companions at the time, family, even strangers, like the veteran who offered to snap my picture in the Publix parking lot.

Remembering a Very Special Teacher

Remembering a very special teacher emerged as I started thinking about my scholastic experience. There were ups and downs, but a few teachers really stand out. Today I’m going to tell you about my English teacher from high school, Miss Barbara Clark.

Remembering a Very Special Teacher

First Impressions Aren’t Everything

She certainly looked different than my previous teachers. Her dress was more sophisticated and her size couldn’t be ignored that first day of school over 50 years ago. Yet soon, her words and her smile were all I noticed. As a serious student, I appreciated her innovation. Rather than face the prospect of boring Beowulf in senior English literature, she convinced the curriculum coordinator to offer specialized classes. I quickly signed up for Creative Writing, Humanities, and Contemporary Authors.

Innovation Offered Me a Keen Interest

Remembering a very special teacherAlthough prior to AP classes, these college prep class choices were probably more fun. Can you imagine receiving a grade for reading your favorite author and writing an essay? I chose Ray Bradbury. Although there was a requirement for the number of books or short stories to read, I easily exceeded it as I read all I could find in the school library and the city library within the time period prior to composing my report.

And Miss Clark took us on field trips in Humanities. Architecture as art was the subject of a trip to Tampa, Florida. She opened our minds and hearts to the hidden significance of a rose window in an historic Episcopal church, pointing out other stained glass art as a method to teach scripture to parishioners during the Middle Ages. The knowledge I acquired in her classes enabled me to ace tests for college credit at Polk Community College (Polk State College now) in both Humanities and English.

Sometimes it Takes Time to Bear Fruit

Creative Writing was my first experience with the concept of the power of words. It sparked a hidden talent that smoldered until I found my voice in Julie Colvin’s May 2015 Wellness and Writing Retreat in Sedona, AZ forty-four years later. An exploration of my published works will give you more insight into my life journey between these writing experiences.

While augmenting my memory with research for today’s article, I found another student who admired Miss Clark, Wendi Wooddell. Wendi graduated nearly a decade later than I. She also went on to college where she chose journalism as a way to feed her love of literature. However, when Wendi graduated, the State of Florida was begging for teachers. Although teaching was not her expectation, Wendi applied for an English teacher vacancy at Winter Haven High School. Since she didn’t have any teaching classes during college, she went through her stash of handouts from Miss Clark to plan that first year as a teacher. As her knowledge of teaching increased, Wendi continued to use her stash of gold from Miss Clark, further validated through professional education and district in-service classes.

Excellence Fosters More Excellence

Wendi went on to excel during her 33-yr career at WHHS. Like Miss Clark had in 1991, Wendi also was awarded the English Teacher of the Year by the Florida Council of Teachers of English in 2010. That led to her receiving the Polk County Teacher of the Year, also in 2010. Finally, in 2011, she received a National Teacher of Excellence Award from the National Council on Teachers of English. In contrast, Wendi felt her highest honor came during her retirement party in 2016 when Winter Haven High School named a building after her.

And Your Favorite Teacher?

These are just two stories of the positive impact Miss Barbara Clark had on her students. How many more examples are out there? I’d love to hear about your remembering a very special teacher in the comments below.

Love from a life-long learner,
Dawn

The Most Important Marketing Tool

Are you wondering what the most important marketing tool is? Also, why do you post on social media? If it’s to connect with your readers or potential clients, this article is for you.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

First of all, I want to mention marketing guru Dan Blank of We Grow Media. When I read his newsletter last week, it struck a nerve. One of Dan’s principles is the importance of connecting with the right audience, that person who needs what you are offering. I wholeheartedly agree with this idea.

How I Expand on Dan’s Idea

My experience includes the importance of purpose. Why do you want to publish your book? What is your motivation?

If you want to help your readers or your clients improve their lives, then we are on the same page.

Non-Fiction vs. Fiction

It is obvious that many non-fiction books are written to help elevate the reader. In contrast, have you ever felt better or learned something about yourself in a fiction book? I know I have. Those are the fiction books I crave; well-written, interesting locations, history is nice, and characters that learn something along the way. Some of my favorite fiction books that fit this description are:

There are many more on my Goodreads profile. Furthermore, I’m in the process of adding books I’ve read in the past to this account, making it a resource for my readers, like you.

What about my favorite non-fiction?  First, I want to note that the first three non-fiction books in my list above are loosely based on the author’s lives. I suspect that is often the case.

Here is my short list:

I imagine you are thinking, these are kind of strange, unrelated subjects. Absolutely! But that is the key to the most important marketing tool.

Here’s the Marketing Tool

After being very clear what you are selling, writing about, or the service you are offering, imagine your perfect client sitting with you. Have a conversation with them. What would you talk about? Ask them about their interests and hone in where you have common ground. Furthermore, what are they looking for that you can give them?

Finally, use this information when you post on social media.

Draw your perfect client or reader in with a photo, question, or quote. Engage with other like-minded people on social media. Don’t just ‘like’ their posts, comment from your heart. Share their posts. Use their profile link in your share to let them know you care about what they are sharing.

Be real.

An Invitation

Let’s have some conversations on social media. You can find me several ways. Click on the social media icons on the page. Or search for @dawnoutside on Twitter and Instagram. I can’t wait to read your share on the most important marketing tool.

Update on my Instagram account: A friend notified me she had received a personal message from someone who stole my profile picture and was contacting my followers. Hmmm. At first I was very angry, then fear crept in.

Finally, a little more about my photo here. It’s a photo of the first dawn at my new house. Did it help to draw you into this page? I’ve found that personal, real photos are much more effective than using professional images. Furthermore, my loving energy will always be in my photos, words, and paintings.

See you soon,
Dawn